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After looking at the Macrory cup draw I fancy the 4 semi-finalists to be St. Colmans, St. Macartans,St. Michaels and Abbey CBS.

My young lad was called for a trial last year. He said it was the worse run farce he ever had the misfortune to be part of

Know a couple of parents who's lads were involved this year who also claim it is a farce and were sorry their lads waste a day out of class.Team mentors at the trials looking after the interests of their own lads with strategic team selection/positioning to ensure their lads look better if playing against or for the team their in charge off. What's the point of the trials if it's not an even playing field?

Ulster college all-star trials were held last week.
At one trial 13-aside games were played. Can anyone understand how a fullback or fullforward could have a fair shot at showing what they can do when not played in their chosen position.
Have these positions already been chosen?

Never understood the rationale for these trial games, the All Stars should be picked the same as the Senior ones on match performances no?

Would have to agree should be picked on performances throughout the league stages.

Would it be fair to say that some schools offer lower sixth places to boys who offer great service on the football field, but clearly have little academic ability and shouldn't be there?

Surely all grammar schools must have a minimum level of academic achievement they require before they would consider offering a  lad a place. Wouldn't be fair on the lad if he was being left behind in class because he isn't fit for the work. Or am I just being naive?

[stole by Kilcoo]

The point being made here is Burren as a club don't view League success as a priority and championship is all that matters .Playing League in November really doesn't matter and championship in last 2 years has been missed but this year in reality was a very unlucky one stole by Kilcoo in last few minutes.

Stole implies that it was rightfully Burren's to begin with and that Kilcoo took it unfairly. Perhaps you could rephrase that as Kilcoo earned/deserved/secured/prevailed/merited victory in the last few minutes. Choose any word you think suitable, but maybe don't imply Kilcoo took something that belonged to someone else, that they deprived the rightful owner of it. That is just a touch arrogant don't you think?

I agree PAULD123 a bit arrogant, think Burren are having a problem accepting the fact that they're not the top club in Down anymore ( except U14's )

It should be a good final next week between St Pats Cavan and MaCartans. McCartans have Conor McCarthy Monghan Minor star from this year and corner forward for Scotstown in their attack along with Cavan Minor Captain Tom Hayes.

Pats haven't had a full strength team for the league so its been good progress.

That's two of the reasons I thought Mc Cartans could be the team to beat but if St Pats have lads still to come in that will improve their team and the fact that no one beat them in a group that looked stronger on paper than Mc Cartans, well maybe it will be Cavans year!

Looks like there was some very exciting Macrory cup games yesterday anyone at any of the matches. Is there any truth that a few Abbey CBS/ St. Pats Cavan lads got red carded after the final whistle and if so how does this affect them for the next stage of the competition?   Maghera v Magherafelt and Abbey v St. Pauls should be well contested derby matches in the play offs. I think Monaghan will be the team to beat overall.

Ye have to laugh sometimes.
The 'Point only won yesterday because Burren weren't interested or the competition is as badly run as it has been in years,or the clubs all treat it with disdain or too many teams didn't field or its the county board's fault. Sure Burren never really wanted to play, they weren't interested, they just showed up to fulfil the fixture and avoid the fine.

If that game was played another 10 times the result would be the same 10 out of ten times.

Great to see that teams don't fear Burren anymore. If the group of lads playing for Burren yesterday is the best they have coming through their ranks then they have problems ahead. Warrenpoint should have won by more. Shame  about the handbag stuff at the end of the game.

Ridiculous taking these two teams to Kilcoo for a county final instead of the Marshes.Give them their big day out on the county's first choice pitch. Better for the spectators too!

Burren look like strong favourites given their championship pedigree,CPN just might be a year or two  too soon.Donnach McAleenan and Ryan Magee still young though great talents and a steady keeper with McCartan in the middle but I think the match up between Magee and Shay McArdle could be interesting but Burren to shade it.Gerard McGovern developing into a serious player ,this Burren team will not be beaten.

Going by the clubs history you would have to say Burren are big favourites but on the day its down to the two teams on the pitch who have the chance to make their own history. Burren have two outstanding players at this level in Mc Ardle and Mc Govern but CPN have a great presence and player in Mc Cartan, he may well pick up Mc Ardle. Hopefully the weather will be kind and we witness an entertaining tight game.

No real surprises today both CPN and Burren winning easily enough. Didn't make it to either of the games were there any stand out candidate's for next years U21's

Disappointing result for Colman's last night but seemed to be very close. Hopefully they will build on it. Was reading the match preview and Maghera seemed to be the favourites. Three Rannafasts in 4 years, some going plus a MacRory/Hogan. How good is young Carr and Aiken? Crossmaglen are doing well.

they have a long way to go to be in the same class as young Glass.

As far as I know the top 2 in each section qualify for the QFs automatically and then the next 4 playoff A3 v B6; A4 v B5; A5 v B4; A6 v B3 and it's open draw after that.

Yip something like that, and those playoffs will approximately be the week before the quarter finals, which will place the automatic qualifiers who went straight to the quarter finals at a disadvantage. They will being going in cold on the back of a couple of challenge matcsh against a team who has had a very serious game the week before.

The more serious the game the more risk of injury to key players.

Abbey were winning by 7 pts. with 10 mins to go and didn't close it out from what I hear. They played one of their best forwards Donnacha Mc Aleenan as a corner back then made a raft of subs which didn't work

Maybe they have plenty of good forwards and have a shortage of quality defenders, could be their Achilles heel this year.

[Armagh Minor Football Championship Semi Final]

Armagh Minor Football Championship Semi Final
Killeavy St Moninnas 3-10  Silverbridge Harps 4-11

After Extra Time

well done silverbridge